Good to hear from you DJ and that you are still out there on two wheels. I recently moved to a larger bike as well but still have the M50 and have to second what you say about it. I was going to keep my 50 as a second bike but between a new bike and other hobbys I just don't think I'll have time to ride it so probably will be putting it up for sale in a few months.

DJ, I am really liking the Victory XR. It is a huge bike but doesn't ride like one and plenty of torque and still get in the low 40's for gas mileage. When I bought my M50 back in early 2009 it had the 200 Metz on it so I don't have any thing else to compare it to. I've put over 11K miles on it and the thing still has plenty of tread, can't kill it but it is getting a little slick from the rubber getting hard. If I keep my M I will go back to the stock rear tire size, the 200 really hurts the handling of the bike. I didn't realize how much till I got my victory because it will out handle my M on the twisties.

Took my JK forwards off today. Figured it would be easier to sell the bike with the controls in the stock position. Took it for a spin to check my brakes and instantly missed the forwards, best mod for the M50 IMO.

TowGuy, yes I will be selling them but not till I get the bike sold. I am not pressed to sell my M and I am not going to take any low offers so I might not get it sold this spring. If I don't then I will be putting the forwards back on and ride it the rest of the year. I am leaving the windshield and sissybar on it but the few other extras I have I will post on here before I go to $bay.

Looked at it. Looked at my 1400 basket case. Looked back. Wished I could get the torque of the 1400 into the frame of the 800 (or out of the 800's engine). The M sure does look nice, but it's got no shine like my 1400. Eventually it'll turn into a rat bike or a streetfighter variant. That's just the way these little 800's go. Maybe, just maybe, mine will end up dipped in chrome. Wouldn't that be a hoot!?!

You got quite a project going on there Pheonix! I have to agree with you on the 800's. They will do anything you ask of them except give you the extra power that most end up craving. It is going to hurt to sell mine (if I can find a buyer) but I don't hardly have the time to ride one bike much less two of them and need the extra room in my garage. I've mentioned this before in other threads but there has been many a time riding with my buddies when we are pulled over that people have come up to my little M50 and said I had the best looking bike of the group. I don't get near the compliments from my Vic as I do my M50 and I think that says alot about the design of these motorcycles.